Lamp that is capable of curing nail products using either a LED Light Source or a UV Light Source all in one machine

ABSTRACT

Right now, some nail products can cure in a UV Lamp for several minutes OR LED Lamp for several seconds. The LED products are new to the Industry. Nail Technicians are frustrated that they will need TWO units. One to cure with LED bulbs in it. And one to cure with UV bulbs in it. My invention solves this problem by combining both types of bulbs in one unit. With the touch of a button a Nail Technician can choose to use the LED bulbs OR the UV bulbs (but never at the same time).

The present invention relates to a lamp that is capable of curing nailproducts using either a LED Light source OR a UV Light Source all in onemachine.

The device is comprised of the following

The Unit itself has a center panel of LED bulbs that can cure chemicalproducts in a downward direction (the tops of the nails). Then there arestrips of LED bulbs off to the right and off to the left (tilted at anangle) in order to provide light to cure the nails from both sides. ALSOin the unit are four 9 watt UV bulbs. Two at the top on either side ofthe LED Panel offering light downward to the tops of the nails, as wellas a bulb on the right side and a bulb on the left side in order to curethe sides of the nails. There is reflector material lining the inside toallow the light rays to reflect and sufficiently cover all sides of afinger nail (ONE full hand at a time). There is also a hand rest platethat can be removed so that the lamp can comfortably fit over a footwithout sticking a foot inside the lamp (a sanitation issue in the USNail Industry). On the outside of the unit there is a power switch. Onceturned on the Technician can use a button panel to control her lamp. Onebutton will choose “LED” or “UV” bulbs. A dot light illuminates once thechoice is made. Then there are four buttons to choose how much time tocure the chemical product on the nails. There is also a digital visualto show the time ticking backwards. Once it reaches 0:00 the light bulbsautomatically shut off and let the Nail Technician and his/her clientknow that the cure time is reached. The electrical cord can be done in110v for USA or 220v for overseas.

An electrical source is necessary.

Nail products contain an “initiator” chemical that allows it to cure.There are two that are used in the nail industry. One will react withthe light rays emitted by an LED bulb while the other will react withthe light rays emitted by a UV bulb. Any single product CAN have bothinitiators. The reason for either choice is UV bulbs take longer to curethe product (about 2-3 minutes). LED bulbs cure for a much shorter time(15-45 seconds). A technician may choose to save time and cure in an LEDlamp OR may not own an LED lamp and would use their slower UV lamp.Newer products containing the LED initiator would benefit from the LEDbulbs and cure fast. While OLDER industry products that are notformulated with the LED initiator require the UV bulbs to cure theirproducts. There is no need or use for both bulbs to run at the sametime.

The unit is plugged into an electrical outlet. The user would then turnon a powder switch located on the back of the lamp unit providing powerto the unit. The Nail Technician then applies her chemical product tohis/her clients finger or toe nails. Generally there are several coatsor layers involved. The technician would then either place the hand intothe unit with the bottom hand tray still in the lamp unit OR place theunit over the toe nails with the hand tray removed. The technician wouldthen press one button to choose which light source to use LED or UV.Once the light source is chosen, the technician would then press thebutton for the appropriate amount of cure time (the choices are 5 secs,10 secs, 30 secs, 60 secs for LED and 30 secs, 90 secs, 120 secs or 180secs for the UV bulbs). The appropriate light source would then come oninside the lamp unit. As well a window shows the time chosen and ticksback the seconds until it reaches 0:00 at which time the light sourceautomatically shuts off. The technician then removes the clients handand may or may not apply another coat of the chemical product to thenails and repeat the curing process in the Lamp Unit. When finished, theTechnician can wipe down and clean the inside of the units hand tray forthe next client.

A plastic mold is necessary to make the entire housing for the Lampunit. Electrical components and wires hidden inside the closed part ofthe unit provide electrical power to the bulbs and control panel.

The unit is plugged into an electrical outlet. The user would then turnon a powder switch located on the back of the lamp unit providing powerto the unit. The Nail Technician then applies her chemical product tohis/her clients finger or toe nails. Generally there are several coatsor layers involved. The technician would then either place the hand intothe unit with the bottom hand tray still in the lamp unit OR place theunit over the toe nails with the hand tray removed. The technician wouldthen press one button to choose which light source to use LED or UV.Once the light source is chosen, the technician would then press thebutton for the appropriate amount of cure time (the choices are 5 secs,10 secs, 30 secs, 60 secs for LED and 30 secs, 90 secs, 120 secs or 180secs for the UV bulbs). The appropriate light source would then come oninside the lamp unit. As well a window shows the time chosen and ticksback the seconds until it reaches 0:00 at which time the light sourceautomatically shuts off. The technician then removes the clients handand may or may not apply another coat of the chemical product to thenails and repeat the curing process in the Lamp Unit. When finished, theTechnician can wipe down and clean the inside of the units hand tray forthe next client.

Since UV light sources can cure chemical products it is possible thatanother field of technology that uses either LED or UV Bulbs to curetheir products. For example, hand held units are available in the dentalfield to cure fillings, whiten teeth and create caps or crowns.

The current units either house LED bulbs OR UV bulbs but never both.

UV Lamps have been on the market for 20+ years. LED have only been onthe market for the last 2-3 years. Nail Technicians are limited to theirwork space and frustrated that they need to keep two separate units.Also, there are many pre-existing products on the market that will notcure in a LED lamp. So the Nail Technicians cannot just replace their UVLamps with an LED Lamp. My invention solves the issue of their smallwork space and offers them the two options of curing in ONE unit that isthe size of a typical unit.

Right now, some nail products can cure in a UV Lamp for several minutesOR LED Lamp for several seconds. The LED products are new to theIndustry. Nail Technicians are frustrated that they will need TWO units.One to cure with LED bulbs in it. And one to cure with UV bulbs in it.My invention solves this problem by combining both types of bulbs in oneunit. With the touch of a button a Nail Technician can choose to use theLED bulbs OR the UV bulbs (but never at the same time).

IMAGES ADDED TO THE PATENT APPLICATION

FIG. 1: view of the top of the unit

FIG. 2: view of the control pad that chooses light source as well astimer options. Also you can see the display that shows the time as itticks down.

FIG. 3: Front of the unit looking inside with the hand rest tray stillattached.

FIG. 4: Front of the unit looking inside with the hand rest trayremoved. Also shows what the hand rest tray looks like.

FIG. 5: Front of the unit looking inside with the hand rest trayremoved. You can see placement of all the LED bulbs (little dot bulbs)and all the UV bulbs (long skinny bulbs).

FIG. 6: shows only the bulbs at the top of the lamp (shot upside down)that will cure the tops of the nails. (side UV bulbs not visible).

FIG. 7: Back of the unit. This shows the main power switch that suppliespower to the unit. Also, the location of the fuse for ease ofreplacement.

FIG. 8: Shows a hand in the lamp the way a technician will use it withhis/her client.

What is claimed is:
 1. lamp that is capable of curing nail productsusing either a LED Light source OR a UV Light Source all in one machine.